Tamariki and Rangatahi Goal Plan – child-friendly version

Update made to this guidance

This guidance has been updated to reflect the change from the All About Me plan to the Goal Plan.

What is the Tamariki and Rangatahi Goal Plan

The Tamariki and Rangatahi Goal Plan is a child-friendly version of the approved Goal Plan for te tamaiti or rangatahi. It captures the approved Goal Plan for te tamaiti or rangatahi in a form appropriate for their age, language, development and any disabilities they may have.

The Tamariki and Rangatahi Goal Plan supports te tamaiti or rangatahi to understand their Goal Plan, and how the people involved in the plan will support their needs, goals, wishes and aspirations. It is also an important way for te tamaiti or rangatahi to understand why they are in care and what’s happening to support them and their whānau or family.

Completing the Tamariki and Rangatahi Goal Plan

Before preparing a Tamariki and Rangatahi Goal Plan, the individual needs of te tamaiti or rangatahi should be considered. Not all tamariki and rangatahi will require a Tamariki and Rangatahi Goal Plan to support their understanding of their Goal Plan. For example, a Tamariki and Rangatahi Goal Plan may not be required for a very young pēpi, and older rangatahi may not need or wish to have a Tamariki and Rangatahi Goal Plan version of their Goal Plan.

A Tamariki and Rangatahi Goal Plan template has been provided but the Tamariki and Rangatahi Goal Plan should take whatever form will make it meaningful and accessible for te tamaiti or rangatahi based on their individual needs – this could be as simple as a single piece of paper with drawings on it.

Tamariki and Rangatahi Goal Plan (PDF 7.7 MB)

The Tamariki and Rangatahi Goal Plan template is filled out manually in a way preferred by te tamaiti or rangatahi. They might like to fill out their Tamariki and Rangatahi Goal Plan using their own words or drawings as their social worker explains their Goal Plan to them, or they may prefer the social worker to fill it out for them.

The Tamariki and Rangatahi Goal Plan can be customised to appeal to te tamaiti or rangatahi and reflect what is unique about them. For example, we could:

• include a picture of them or their whānau or family
• use wording or pictures that align with their culture and identity
• use favourite colours or symbols
• use images that link tamariki and rangatahi Māori to their marae, iwi or whenua and the people important to them – this can be a practical way of expressing mana tamaiti, whakapapa and whanaungatanga.

Be mindful of including sensitive information in the Tamariki and Rangatahi Goal Plan and the degree and depth of detail – tamariki and rangatahi may share their plan with others without realising the consequences of distributing the information. For example:

• record a health need in the words of te tamaiti or rangatahi, with sufficient detail for them to understand
• treat information about the whakapapa of tamariki and rangatahi Māori as a taonga.

Whenever the Goal Plan for te tamaiti or rangatahi is reviewed and updated, the social worker must also update the Tamariki and Rangatahi Goal Plan and ensure that te tamaiti and rangatahi is supported to understand their plan in a way that is suitable for their age, development, language and any disabilities they may have. 

Giving a copy of the Tamariki and Rangatahi Goal Plan to te tamaiti or rangatahi

Tamariki and rangatahi have a right to keep a copy of their Tamariki and Rangatahi Goal Plan.

When we give te tamaiti or rangatahi a copy of their Tamariki and Rangatahi Goal Plan, we should help them understand that the plan contains information that is personal to them and it should be kept safe and shared carefully with people who are safe and trusted.

Keeping a record of the Tamariki and Rangatahi Goal Plan

The Tamariki and Rangatahi Goal Plan is uploaded into the Planning With section in Te Aronga.